When he first introduced First Dog Bo to the White House press corps, President Obama made mention of Harry Truman”’’s oft-quoted line that if you want a friend in Washington, “get a dog.”

So as critics assail Obama on numerous issues including Afghanistan and healthcare, the four-footed animal stirring in the White House is inspiring a lot of love this holiday season. Or at least he”’’s getting a lot of attention.

White House Pastry Chef Bill Yosses, co-author of “Desserts for Dummies,” worked the first puppy into his design for a gingerbread replica of the White House, which is on display at all the holiday parties this year. Bo”’’s curly coat was made with dollops of chocolate.

And White House photographer Samantha Appleton took a photo of the Portuguese water dog in front of a Christmas Tree in the diplomatic room. Wearing a red bow, Bo sits expectantly as if to say, “I””m ready for the holidays. Where”’’s everybody else?”

Here”’’s another view of the confection dog and his house.

Finally, the gingerbread White House and its creator.

It was perhaps their first press conference — or anyway, their first public words since they helped rescue the Thanksgiving turkey from his customary fate as centerpiece of the family”””’’s dinner table.

Tuesday, President Obama”””’’s two daughters — 11-year-old Malia and 8-year-old Sasha — joined First Lady Michelle Obama in a holiday visit to the Children”””’’s National Medical Center.

Well trained, the girls did not disclose anything too revealing. But as their mother visited with parents in the hospital”””’’s kidney and heart units, First Dog Bo had a lot to say. His barks interrupted the first lady”””’’s reading of “A Visit From St. Nicholas.”

“He hasn””””t seen Santa before,” she told the kids at the Children”””’’s National Medical Center, assembled for the occasion.
The Obama daughters took turns reading Caralyn Buehner”””’’s “Snowmen at Night” before answering questions from patients. And, White House press corps take note, the questions were pretty good.

Q: What”””’’s Dad getting for Christmas?

“Sports stuff,” said the first lady, trying to preserve a zone of privacy. “It”””’’s something he likes,” added Sasha.

Q: How will Christmas be different this year?

“Well, it will be easier to get on the plane than last year,” said Sasha, to laughter.

Q: How many Christmas trees decorate the White House? This one needed some staff assist, but finally Mrs. Obama replied that there are 26.

“Unfortunately, you don””””t get presents under all of them,” said Malia.

Our President may have received the Nobel Peace Prize this morning, but for his daughters, there is more important business at hand: the 1st birthday of Bo Obama! First Daughter Malia made sure her father was well aware of the dog’s special day when he woke up this morning.

At a press conference today, President Obama took to the White House’s Rose Garden to make his first public comments on being named the surprise winner of this year’s peace prize and said it wasn’t at all how he expected to wake up.

“Malia came in and said, “Daddy, you own the Nobel Peace Prize, and it is Bo’s birthday.” Then Sasha added, “Plus we have a three-day weekend coming up!” he told reporters.

“So it’s good to have kids to keep things in perspective,” he added.

The Portuguese water dog joined the First Family in April when he was just six months old. He was a gift from the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, who picked up Bo from the same Texas breeder he’s used for his own pets, Amigo Portuguese Water Dogs of Boyd, Texas.

Bo on Vacation at Martha’s Vinyard

Bo welcomes his family home from their vacation to the Grand Canyon

Bo Takes a Nap

Taking a walk on the White House lawn

Bo goes to a Congressional Luau

You don”t have to trade your vintage Joe DiMaggio to get this baseball card.
The Obama White House, known for embracing the newest digital trends, is inviting Internet users to download and print out the baseball card for the first family’’s dog, Bo Obama. The card says you can call him the “first dog of the United States.”

Bo’’s portrait shows him sitting on the green South Lawn with his tongue out. Want to know his stats? The card’’s other side lists his birthday and hobbies, such as playing on the lawn and taking walks. Bo’’s goal is to “make friends with foreign dignitaries,” it says.

Favorite foods are “tomatoes — or toys.” Favorite exercises? Running and napping.

But he’’s not the most athletic. The “did you know” section reveals the Portuguese water dog doesn”t know how to swim.

Bo waits patiently for dad Barack Obama to wrap up some business so the pair can squeeze in a round of fetch before the President”’’s June trip to the Middle East.